§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are supporting the Sudanese memorandum of understanding signed on 6 February; if so, by what methods; and whether they will encourage the monitors of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development and United States peace process to work towards reconciliation between the Dinka and Nuer tribes to prevent further ceasefire violations. [HL1713]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos)We do support the addendum to memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cessation of hostilities signed on 4 February between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A). The addendum aims to strengthen the MoU which was signed at Machakos on 15 October 2002 and extended on 18 November 2002. It contains many new and welcome initiatives to build confidence between the parties and make more unlikely the sorts of outbreaks of fighting which we have seen recently in Western Upper Nile.
We also welcome the establishment of the new verification and monitoring team (VMT). We are ready to contribute both personnel and funds to support its important work.
The VMT will investigate alleged violations of the MoU by the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A. The VMT will report to the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) MoU Committee chaired by the Kenyan special envoy, Lt-General Sumbeiywo.
The Sudan peace talks are facilitated by IGAD. The US, alongside the UK, Norway and Italy has observer status at the talks.